Deck lid hinge



June 1, 1943. J. H. ROETHEL 2,320,752

DECK LID HINGE Filed Dec. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR coLM -r ATTO R N Y5.

June 1, 1943. J. H. ROETHEL 2,320,752

DECK LID HINGE Filed Dec. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 III f IK/"ENTOR Patented June 1, 1943 2,320,752 DECK LID HINGE John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich assignor to Marvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Application December 19, 1940, Serial No. 370,783

Claims.

This invention relates to hinges particularly adapted for pivotally connecting together a swinging closure and a fixed body or support, the

e of the present invention being especially useful in connection with swinging doors or lids of vehicle bodies, such as trunk, hood or deck lids of motor vehicle An object of the invention is to provide a hinge for an upwardly swinging closure or lid which is provided with improved relatively simple, efficient and economical spring controlled means for holding the lid or closure in a raised position, such means being operated simply by manipulating the lid in raising and lowering the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for a swinging closure or lid having an improved counterbalancing spring device held substantially out of operation, or in a condition to exert immaterial resistance to the raising of the lid or closure during a part of its movement and thereafter effective to exert a substantial effort or force to move the lid and hold it, or assist in holding it, in fully raised position.

A further object is to provide a hinge having a counterbalancing spring for holding the closure in raised position and rotatable means actuated by the movement of the closure for controlling the tension or resistance of the spring effective to raise the closure.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure, especially of the foregoing type, comprising a pair of hinge members secured to the lid and which are pivoted on a common transverse axis to swing in parallelism, the hinge members being connected through parallel links eccentrically to separate pre-loaded springs arranged on a common axis parallel to the axis of swinging of the hinge members, the construction being such that the effective effort in unison ofv the springs at or near the closing position of the lid is minimized whereas the effective lifting effort of the springs at and near the fully open position of the lid is increased. I

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein lik reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of an automobile body illustrating a lid or closure hinged to the body by means of a hinge device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

, is illustrated as arranged of being practiced or carried out in Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially through lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows. a r

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view partly similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially through lines 6-6 of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 'I is a section taken substantially through lines 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there is illustrated, by way of example, a hinge or hinge structure embodying the present invention as applied to a swinging closure, such as the deck lid or trunk lid or the like of an automobile body. It will be understood that the hinge of the present invention may be utilized in connection with other closures such, for example, as the swinging hood lid of a vehicle body and furtherit'is tobe understood that. although in the present instance the hinge ina particular manner, yet other arrangements and other positionin'g'of the hinge including the support thereof and other parts may be resorted to without departing from the invention.

In the embodiments of the invention herein illustrated, by way of example, the hinge structure is applied to an automobile'body A which has a rear metal panel B forming a sloping deck, tnmk or other compartment provided with an opening C into the compartment which is adapted to be closed by means of a swinging lid or closure member It. It will be seen that the lid or closure In is bowed or curved transversely and in the present instance the hinge members connected to the lid are arranged near the middle of the upper edge of the-deck lid at the highest point of the upper edged the opening C of the compartment.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the hinge structure of this embodiment comprises a pair of similar hinge members or arms II and i I i of generally goose-neck construction so as to swing includes a supporting frame generally indicated by the numeral l2, this frame being of skeleton construction and generally rectangular in shape and composed of four pressed metal sections. As illiatrated the frame in the present instance comprises a front transverse section l3, a rear section l4 similar and parallel thereto, and parallel end sections it. The section I4 is provided with flanges |4a at opposite ends which are secured, as by spot welding, to depending flanges |5a on the end sections I. In like manner the front section I3 of the frame is provided with depending end flanges |3a secured, as by spot welding, to the depending flanges I50 of the end sections. The several sections of the skeleton frame may be provided with suitable embossings l3b, Nb and lib for the purposes of reenforcement and, as

illustrated, the horizontal flanges of the end frame sections l5, which have longitudinal embossments lib, are provided with apertures I50 for the reception of bolts or the like It by means of which the supporting frame i2 may be secured to the body within the upper portion of the deck lid compartment, as clearly seen in Fi 2.

The hinge arms II and III are pivoted or hinged through the medium of hinge pins or studs II to the end flanges "a and lid of the skeleton frame. These hinge arms are preferably identical and each has a generally bell crank extension llc to which is pivoted at I! the forward end of a link l3. The rear end of the link is pivoted at 23 to a swinging arm 2| which for convenience may be termed a crank or lever arm. The crank arms 2|, each of which is connected through a link II to one of the hinge arms, are mounted upon a fixed transverse rod 22 which is secured against rotation in apertures in the depending flanges 14a and its, the ends of the rod being riveted over at 22c as illustrated in Fig. 3. Each crank arm 2| has an integral hub 23 journalled to rotate on the rod 22. Each hub 23 is provided with an external helical thread-likezgroove. The crank arm hub 23, which is connected to the hinge arm II, is threaded or screwed into one end of a coil spring 24. Pinned at 23 to the rod v 22 centrally thereof is a collar or sleeve 25. One

portion a of this collar is provided with an ex- 1 terior helical groove threaded into the opposite end of the spring 24. The opposite side 2512 of the collar '25 is provided with an exterior helical groove threaded into one end of a coil spring 21. The opposite end of the spring 21 is threaded into a hub 23 formed as a part of the link or lever arm 2| which is connected through link II with the hinge arm I. -The pitch of the 21. The springs 24 and 21 are preferably of the same size and strength with the exception that one is reversed with respect to the other and, hence, the threaded portions fitting into the ends of the spring 24 are opposite to the threaded portions fitting into the ends of the spring 21, the threads in one instance being lefthand and the threads in the other instance being righthand.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 the construction is substantially the same as above described with the exception that the parallell inks I. connected to the hinge arms II and iii are pivoted at their rear ends at 28 to parallel swinging crank or lever arms 29 which in turn are secured to pivot pins or studs 30 Journalled in the flange portions Ma and lia of the supporting frame. Each stud 30 has a slot or kerf 3| into which the end 32a of a coil spring 32 is anchored; The opposite end 32b of each spring is anchored to a lug or tongue 33 struck out from the metal of the frame. Each spring 32 of this embodiment is of the clock type comprising a fiat metal strip wound spirally to provide overlying convolutions. The springs 32 differ from the coil springs 24 and 21 of the previous embodiment in that the latter have helically wound convolutions.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 4- inclusive, as,

also in the embodiment of Figs. 5 to 7 inclusive, the springs are mounted on a common transverse axis parallel to the common axis of turning of the hinge arms II and ill and coincident with the axis of swinging of the crank or lever arms. As the crank arms swing during raising and lowering of the lid Hi, this movement will result in partially winding or unwinding the springs varying the loaded or stressed condition thereof.

Having first selected springs of the proper size and strength to accommodate the weight of the lid, the springs are assembled in pre-stressed or pre-loaded condition so as to substantially balance the weight of the lid. In the first embodiment the ends of the springs 24 and 21 are screwed onto the threaded members 23 and 25 and properly pre-loaded. Likewise the clocktype springs 32 of the second embodiment are wound so that when their ends are anchored these springs will be pre-loaded. During opera tion of the lid the action of lever or crank arms 2| and 29 will be to vary or permit variance in the effective effort exerted by the springs at different positions of the lid. In full lines in Figs. 2 and 6 the-fully elevated position of the lid and the relation of the parts connected to the springs is indicated at Z. This position of the lid may be governed by stops 34 adapted to be engaged by the hinge arms. As the lid is lowered pivot I9 moves toward the dead center line passing through points l1 and 20 or II and 28, and until position Y is reached a progressive loading of the springs occurs. Beyond the dead center position and as pivot l3 moves to position X, at which time the lid is fully closed, a slight reverse action of the springs occurs in which a slight amount of effort of the springs is exerted to urge or hold the lid closed. The reverse action takes place as the lid is raised. During the initial lifting of the lid little effort is required to raise it to the position represented by dotted line dead center position Y of the linkage. Thereafter the springs exert a lifting action which tends to complete the raising of the lid and holding it in fully elevated position. In the first embodiment, when the crank arms 2| swing about the axis of coil springs 24 and 21, the threaded portions 23 tend to be screwed further into or slightly out 3f the endsof. the springs, thuswinding up or unwinding the springs to the necessary amount to secure the desired action.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted tobe fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis, said hinge arms having crank portions projecting laterally from said axis, a pair of separate springs having their respective convolutions arranged on substantially a common axis, and means operatively connecting said hinge arms to said springs to vary the efi'ort exerted by the springs on the lid as the latter is swung, said last means including members pivotally connected to the crank portions of said arms at points spaced from the pivotal axis of the arms and eccentrically connected to the springs at points more remote from said axis than from said points of connection of the members to the arms when the lid is closed.

2. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis a pair of separate springs having their respective convolutions arranged on substantially a common axis, and means operatively connecting said hinge arms to said springs to vary the effort exerted by the springs on the lid as the latter is swung, said last means including substantially parallel links pivotally connected to the hinge arms at points spaced from the pivots thereof and rotatively connected to the springs at points more remote from said first named axis than from the said points of connection of the links to the hinge arms when the lid is closed.

3. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis, a pair of separate spirally wound springs having their respective convolutions arranged on substantially a common axis, and means operatively connecting said hinge arms to said springs to vary the eil'ort exerted by the springs on the lid as the latter is swung, the points of connection of said means to said springs being further from the axis of the arms than from the points of connection of said means to said arms in the closed positon of the lid.

4. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis. a pair of separate springs having their respective convolutions arranged on substantially a common axis, and means operatively connecting said hinge arms to said springs to vary the efi'ort exerted by the springs on the lid as the latter is swung, said springs having helically arranged convolutions and the connections between the hinge arms A asaonsa 3 and the springs including members having reversely threaded portions engaging the convolu-' tions of; the respective springs.

5. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to beswung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid andpivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis, a pair of coil springs arranged'end to end, a transverse rod extending through the springs, and means operatively connecting the hinge arms to the spirngs including members pivotally mounted on said rod and connected to the remote ends 01' the springs.

6. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis, a pair of coil springs arranged end to end, a transverse rod extending through the springs, and means' operatively connecting the hinge arms to the springs including members pivotally mounted on said rod and having reversely threaded connections with the remote ends of the springs.

'7. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis, said hinge arms having crank portions extending laterally from said axis, a pair of spirally wound springs mounted on the supporting means and arranged on a common transverse axis substantially parallel to said first mentioned axis, and lever means connecting the crank portions of saidhinge arms to said springs at points lying substantially at the said axis of said springs, the points of connection of the lever means to said springs being further from the axis of the hinge arms than from the points of connection or the lever means to said crank portions in the closed position of the lid.

8. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be swung between open and closed positions, comprising fixed supporting means, a pair of hinge arms adapted to be fixed adjacent their outer ends to the lid and pivoted at their inner ends to the supporting means to swing about a common transverse axis, a pair of coil springs arranged end to end. a transverse rod extending through the springs, means operatively connecting the hinge arms to thesprings including members pivotally mounted on said rod and having reversely threaded connections with the remote ends of the springs, and means on said rod having threaded connections with the adjacent ends of said springs internally thereof.

9. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised and lowered to open and close an opening, comprising a fixed support, a hinge arm fixed at one end to the lid and pivoted at its opposite end to the support, said hinge arm having a crank portion extending laterally from said pivot, a spring connected to the support, and a member pivoted to the crank portion of the hinge arm at a point spaced from the pivot of the arm and having means connected to the spring to vary the effort exerted by the 4 'springonthelidssthelatterisswung,thepivot port, a hinge arm fixed at one end to the lid and pivoted at its opposite end to the support, a spring connected to the support, and means including a member pivoted to the hinge arm at a point spaced from the pivot 01 the arm and having means for connection to the spring to vary the effort exerted by the spring on the lid as the latter is swung, the point oi. connection of said means to the spring in the closed position of the lid being further from the pivotal axis of the hinge arm than ifrom the point of pivotal connection oi the member to the hinge arm.

JOHN H. ROETHEL 

